Now the spacecraft is on its way to the Kuiper Belt to study Kuiper Belt Object 2014 MU69 in January 2019. While New Horizons is in hibernation, which is scheduled to end on September 11, the science and mission operations teams will be busy planning the MU69 flyby and deciding on flyby altitudes.

Most of New Horizons will be unpowered during its 157-day hibernation, but the onboard flight computer will continue checking in on the craft’s health and safety and send reports back to Earth once a month.